What TCF Canada listening score do I need for each NCLC level?

Q: What TCF Canada listening score do I need for each NCLC level?

In listening, IRCC places NCLC 7 at 458 to 502, NCLC 9 at 523 to 548 and NCLC 10 and above from 549, on a scale of 100 to 699. Below 331, the score matches no NCLC level in the chart. These bands are not the same as the reading bands.

Checked November 2, 2026

In listening, IRCC places NCLC 7 at 458 to 502, NCLC 9 at 523 to 548 and NCLC 10 and above from 549, on a scale of 100 to 699. Below 331, the score matches no NCLC level in the chart. These bands are not the same as the reading bands.

The listening chart

NCLC	Score out of 699	Level shown by FEI
10 and above	549–699	C1–C2
9	523–548	C1
8	503–522	C1
7	458–502	B2–C1
6	398–457	B1–B2
5	369–397	B1
4	331–368	B1

The NCLC bands come from IRCC, the CEFR levels from France Éducation international’s (FEI) handbook. IRCC’s chart stops at NCLC 4. A score of 330 or less does not convert.

The score you need

IRCC requires NCLC 7 in each skill for the Federal Skilled Worker program and for the Canadian Experience Class with a TEER 0 or 1 job, which is 458 here. With a TEER 2 or 3 job, it is NCLC 5, which is 369. For other programs, see what NCLC is.

Three things the chart doesn’t tell you on its own

Reading has different cut-offs. NCLC 7 starts at 458 in listening but at 453 in reading, and 500 is NCLC 7 in listening but NCLC 8 in reading. Don’t mix the columns, see the reading score.
NCLC 7 spills into C1. In FEI’s grid, 400 to 499 is B2 and 500 to 599 is C1. That is why the 458–502 band is labelled B2–C1.
You can’t convert a number of correct answers. Only correct answers count, then a scale that weighs each question’s difficulty produces the score. FEI does not publish that scale.

What matters during the test

The candidate handbook sets these rules for the 39 questions in 35 minutes.

Each recording is played only once, and the question comes after you hear it.
No one can enter or leave once the listening section has started.
On paper, you must not write on the question booklet. You tick a square box, and you can correct an answer only once, in the round box on the second line.
On computer, listening is done with headphones, and the question and answers appear together on screen.
FEI advises not wasting time taking notes during the multiple-choice sections. A wrong answer costs nothing, so leave no question blank.

For method and free listening practice, see the listening and reading guide. IRCC reads each skill separately, so strong listening does not make up for writing below the threshold. To check your writing, write a task and get an estimated mark out of 20.